Duke Of York Greenhill Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 6DY

1. 1.The opening to create the serving hatch on the rear elevation and the installation of wooden shutters has resulted in loss of historic fabric and harm to the appearance of the listed building and therefore has failed to conserve or enhance the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building. This level of harm is less than substantial and towards the lower end of that spectrum. Where less than substantial harm is caused to a designated heritage asset, the harm should be weighed against the public benefit of the scheme. The assertion that the hatch has generated an additional 20% of the businesses daily take when open on Fridays and Saturdays and its loss would have very real financial, employment and accessibility impacts on the premises to the detriment of the pub, the local economy and community is not supported by any empirical data (such has accounts), which can be independently analysed and tested. Furthermore, whilst it may be the case that the serving hatch has increased profitability, no assertions have been made or evidence provided that the public house was previously unviable without the serving hatch or would become unviable should it close. Whilst increased profitability will feed, to some degree, into the local economy it is considered this benefit is predominantly private in nature rather than a public benefit. In the absence of a more a detailed and robust analysis of alternative design options for allowing wheelchair access, the purported benefits of the serving hatch in respect of accessibility are not accepted as it is considered that more appropriate forms of access, such as ramps, which would have less intervention into the historic fabric have not been considered and adequately discounted.
2. 2.26/00294/FUL In this case the Council has not identified that the purported public benefits would outweigh the demonstrable harm caused to the Listed Building. The proposal is therefore in conflict with the objectives of policies CP3 and CP14 of the Lichfield Local Plan Strategy, Policy BE2 of the Local Plan Allocations Document and the requirements set out within chapter 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The development is not considered to be of a sustainable form which complies with the provisions of paragraph 201 of the NPPF.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

WS13 6DY

Date validated

27 March 2026

Consultation end

20 April 2026

Applicant

Private applicant

Case officer

Eloise Whitehouse

Documents

10